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A cringey, fun, dad humor, show.
Since this show has no review, I decided to write one. This show was my first drama in the sitcom genre. Personally, it's not for me, but nevertheless, I liked it since I watched it with my family, and it genuinely has funny parts sometimes. It's just like those Selena Gomez, Hannah Montana-type Disney kids shows, with quick jokes in between monologues and random characters doing things for no apparent reason. Give it a try if you are into that. The only difference from a Disney kids' show is that in this show, something or the other is constantly happening on the screen; it gives you no room to breathe, and my God, the shaky cam makes it difficult to pay attention sometimes. I watched it for Ji Jin-hee, 7.5/10.Was this review helpful to you?
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I fell in love with T-Rex when I first saw him. He looks too sweet and innocent. He's too cute, that you can't help but love him and his sweet smile. The female lead was kind of dumb and forgave too easily but realized her feelings before it was too late.
It had it's moments that will make you go "awe poor baby" then go "HAHAHAHA" because something funny will happen. It was really enjoyable.
The acting wasn't AMAZING but it wasn't bad either. It was good. The male lead did a great job and he hasn't had much acting experience. Same with the female lead but she's done a couple dramas. I loved the different facial expressions T-Rex had.
Overall, it was a cute and funny drama that I really loved and would probably watch again just to see T-Rex!
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Mysterious FL, Gorgeous ML
Memory loss is a popular theme in Chinese dramas. But the memory loss in this story is slightly different - the character’s memory is surgically removed. Despite the confusion of the beginning episodes because of poor writing, and poor acting by the female lead, I press on as her mysterious background combined with the mysteries around her captivate me. A murderous hidden antagonist, an investigative journalist, and most of all, a devoted and gorgeous male lead, all these intrigue me with a plot propelled by the mysteries.When everyone thinks she has died in a car fire accident, Su Yi (Yuan Yu Xuan) comes back to seek for answers of what had happened 7 years ago when her father was slandered and killed in the same accident with her. She has lost memory of a big chunk of her life, including her time with her lover, Li Jia Shang (Liu Yi Chang) whom she doesn’t even know now. For Li Jia Shang, Mu Xiao (aka Su Yi) is his only love and has remained single since she’s gone. The dynamics between the couple, with the assistance of their buddies, Zheng He (Zhang Si Fan) and Xia Xi Yang (Xu Xiao Nuo), are wonderful to watch. Though I didn’t like the FL’s character in the beginning, I began to understand her better as the story unfolds. Having said that, Yuan Yu Xuan’s acting still requires improvement as she’s rather confusing with inappropriate expressions that do not synch with the moments; she is at times stiff and unnatural though she dresses extremely well. I do enjoy Liu Yi Chang’s and other cast members’ acting. I find Liu Yi Chang charismatic and fits the character he plays very well.
My Verdict
The plotline is quite intriguing as viewers want to find out what actually had happened 7 years ago, who Su Yi is, why she cannot remember Li Jia Shang at all, and who the obnoxious hidden villain is. There is a lot of twists and turns, intimacy and passionate kisses, and two pairs of lovely side couples.
There are certainly many flaws and plot holes but everything manages to brush through rather nicely for the ending. Having said that, many events and actions are of no consequence and do not provide additional information for the viewers, understandably they are merely there as fillers. Time and time again, a super nasty annoying character gets away with impunity. The dubbed voices also do not synch very well with the mouth movements.
For romance buffs, the main couple has never split up and has always remained true to each other. I love how devoted and committed Li Jia Shang is. He's always there to help Su Yi whenever she's in trouble.
Easy to watch, relatively short drama with less than 30 mins for each episode. Good enough to entertain.
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This review may contain spoilers
Rewriting fate with whips and chains
When I saw the chains and whip, I knew I had to watch it.But seriously, the tension between the leads is *chef's kiss*. The lines were so hot for my liking, and it got my toes curling most of the time like HMMM too spicy~ While the whole reason why they had a BDSM relationship is kinda... questionable... the storyline is actually nice! The whole 'FML is reborn and changes her fate' is already predictable, but it was the complexities of her relationship with the MML that made it exciting to watch. Both of them had their vulnerable moments, but I love how they are each other's damsel in distress. FML is brave and wise just to protect her loved ones, and I love her for that. I also found it interesting that even the MML had to 'rewrite' their fate despite not being reborn. And of course, the real villain and their motivations were a surprise; however, I found their quest to defeat the villain lacking. I just hoped their supposed fate of not being together was highlighted more, so the fruits of their labor would be sweeter hehe.
It's also a jiejie romance—which I super, duper enjoy—but it is not highlighted as much. Still, the dynamics of the leads were really good. I just love to see a submissive, coquettish MML who has his own dark tendencies as well, and a dominant, strong FML ready to risk it all just so her unfortunate fate won't happen again.
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Being loved by a prince has never been so bittersweet
Goodbye, my princess is a gorgeous deconstruction of the “three lives, one love” trope that we see in a lot of Chinese dramas (but specifically xianxia). But unlike those epic magical romances that end with eternal bliss, this show brings that fantastical set up to a historical, realist setting and studies the dark side of it by exploring the sentiment in a very cutthroat world with irreversible consequences. This sad story unfolds through three romances: first, the young love of two innocent teenagers, then a prince and a princess united through a political arrangement to bring their countries closer, and lastly, the horrifying entanglements of a ruthless and power-hungry crown prince and his unwilling crown princess who is more of a political prisoner than a bride.I really loved this show! In fact, it’s my new favorite Chinese drama. The worst part of watching this show was seeing stupid comments under the videos. Otherwise, the show itself was nearly perfect. Not perfect maybe, there were things in it that I didn’t love but they were no glaring issues.
Also fair warning: I also read the book while watching this show so 1)I will not shut up about the book and 2) I will compare the show to the book. So minor spoilers in the “negative” section. Really minor. Tiny.
You should watch this if you like:
1. Tragedies
2. But also, sad middles and semi-sad beginnings. It’s not all sunshine then tragedy. It’s just: sad-oh cute!-oh sad again-haha funny-oh that’s too sad-OH NO-NOOOO!
3. Extremely well-done morally ambiguous characters (everyone is good and bad. Except for Xiao Feng. She's a sweetie)
4. Innocent female leads (but not dumb. She's just 15yo, ok? Cut her some slack!)
5. Historical fiction focusing on political schemes
6. Wedding night like: me, my new spouse, and our murder weapons of choice
7. Magical realism genre
8. Romeo and Juliet-esque dynamics
9. Mature stories about life and love. It’s not idealistic at all.
10. The threat of maybe…being attracted...to the villain…I don’t know…it’s more likely than you’d think!
11. Did I mention it’s sad?
It starts so cute and sweet, like children just playing at romance but the stakes get so high so fast and it’s so overwhelming. It is a tragedy in slow motion. From the first moment the story starts, all these small machinations come together to set up a situation that could only end in blood and tears.
The main plot is not really the romance. The main plot is “How to survive as an eastern palace resident in the grander palace environment, as depicted through Xiao Feng and Li Chengyin’s dysfunctional survival tactics.” So, the romance is a part of that, but so is the political intrigue and the revenge plots and the haram catfights, etc. And that’s why I like the plot because there’s a bigger picture and a lot of the smaller details are all connected to each other but they also branch out into B plots that do not take over the main plot’s time but develop slowly and surely in the outskirts of the main plot. I just think it’s important to have fair warning. This is a tragedy and it’s set up that way from the start. If you are looking for a cute romance between two people trying to work out their arranged marriage and find happiness, this show is not it. It’s simply not one of those soft historical fiction dramas. This is more like those hardcore political intrigue shows with big productions and seasoned actors, except it just happens to view that kind of story from the perspective of a young princess so the cast are young and new!
I would say this show will probably operate well as a gateway show to watch more critically acclaimed Chinese dramas with heavier plots and higher quality, if you are used to watching more lighthearted shows. It’s very in-between.
Plot: It’s important that you know, this show is a very good adaptation. I think this is important because knowing the book helps understand why the show is the way that it is. You see, the book is very short and very concise and it’s only from Xiao Feng’s perspective who is a foreign princess with limited knowledge of language and culture in her new country and very few people she interacts with. So for most of the story, she just has no idea what is going on around her. Then by the end, it turns out Li Chengyin was doing all this political cold war stuff behind the scenes. The show had to bring all the “implied” events of the book into life and that’s why the book is romance but the show isn’t. Because it just wouldn’t be possible to make a show that only adapts the novel's content. It’d be 4 episodes long and nothing would make sense! That’s why there are so many political subplots in the story and that meant Xiao Feng wasn’t really a big part of a lot of the stories going on.
I personally enjoyed all that they did with the plot. Overall. There were details I wasn’t crazy about. I’ll get to that later. I liked most of the story. Some things get lost in the transition from text to screen, like just how much Xiao Feng is out of her depth in Central Plains and how most of the things she does and how she does them are due to cultural difference but I still think the show managed to present her as a well-meaning if a bit confused girl.
Acting: The acting in this show is on another level for me. It’s so good. There’s a huge cast. A lot of them are older actors playing complicated people and they were all a joy to watch. For example, Zheng Xiao Ning plays Xiao Feng’s grandfather and his role is there for a short time but he’s just amazing. The way he carries himself, his voice, his gaze, all of it was just chilling and amazing. Or Nagima who plays the mute A’Du. Oh, she was unreal! She doesn’t talk for most of the show but her expressions are enough to cut into your heart like a knife. The things this woman communicated through her eyes. I cried, every time she cried. These are just two out of many actors who blew me away. Most of all though, Peng Xiao Ran and Chen Xing Xu just redefined my expectations of young actors.
A moment of silence to appreciate the fact that Chen Xing Xu was only 22yo when he brought the complicated and extremely enigmatic Li Chengyin to life. How?! What was I doing when I was 22?! I was mostly just crying (tbh he did a lot of crying in bts videos too, lol. Same dude, same!) I can’t compliment these young actors enough. They did such a wonderful job. Their performance was just outstanding. Peng Xiao Ran was also wonderful. She plays what would have been a typical playful cute girl in the hands of another actress but she brings such weight and groundedness to the character, without overacting or looking stupidly childish. She's so in control and I just love that in her performance.
And their chemistry! The chemistry between these two was so good that you can tell the censorship had them cut out kisses because it was just too much, apparently! They were that good.
Also as an ensemble, everyone did such an amazing job. There wasn’t really a performance among them that I can point out and say it was so bad it ruined the scene. Everyone hit their marks perfectly.
Music: The music in this show was great too?! And I don’t mean I got used to it so it was fine. No. It was actually good. It’s gorgeous. They use this heartbreaking leitmotif over and over again that must be some famous chord progression because it steadily made me sad from episode one even though nothing sad had even happened yet. Also fun fact: the most playful track in the music is called “Fear” and I think that’s all you need to know about the mood in this show!
Production: The production gets a special mention because it was that good. The aesthetics of this show are gorgeous. The color grading, the sets, and costumes, the number of sets, and the attention to details in each of them, was just so satisfying. Everything looked pretty expensive too. I don’t know if there really were expensive or not but the clothes looked really regal and the sets were so grand with colors that were so beautifully matched in thematically different settings. No conversation about this show is complete without mentioning the beautiful cinematography. A lot of the natural settings were filmed on location and that has meant the existence of golden dunes and majestic mountains that look breathtaking on screen. It’s a true feast for the eyes. The CGI was very good too. There wasn’t too much of it but you can really tell the director made sure that everything looked as good as it could. It was in little acts of continuity that you can see the dedication of the director to the project.
Rewatch value: Oh sure!
Negatives: As I said, there were some changes made due to the complication of perspectives in the novel. One of these changes was that they kind of do a character cleanse of Gu Jian and also add to his plotline. In the book, Gu Jian visits Xiao Feng three years after her arrival in central plains but in the show, he shows up three months later. That’s at least 21 months’ worth of nothing for him to do! So he just has all these scenes where is sitting around, getting drunk, and…it’s kind of pointless?! I think someone on the production team was probably a Gu Jian fan and they decided they wanted to give him a romantic redemption arc, or they figured since the male lead will become so cruel later, it’ll probably be in their best interest to have a blandly romantic second male lead to soften the blow. I guess?
For the most part, I like what they did with humanizing both men. Li Chengyin and Gu Jian are so much worse in the novel and a whole lot less likable generally but the show does a lot to empathize with both and I love that. I just feel like they sacrificed a bit of Gu Jian’s nuance towards the end of his journey. He managed to redeem himself in pretty much the same way in the novel as the show but for me, the book’s version was more powerful because you knew he was doing bad things before but the one time it mattered, he made the right choice and it was so powerful and I freaking sobbed reading that part. Unfortunately, the show’s version didn’t touch me as much. I was still emotional and very touched by everyone’s great acting but then…two sad-music montages? Come on! That was the only thing I fast-forwarded in the show!
This was a part of a bigger issue with the plot. There are three arcs in this story and the show did a great job with the first two but they kind of lowered their quality in the third and last one which happened to be my favorite part of the novel and the most emotionally touching part. So maybe part of my disappointment is that they derived so far from the novel in the only part that the book actually starts to give details and plots move forward really fast. I still understand why the show ended the way it did and they still kept a lot of my favorite and iconic scenes from the novel but towards the end, there were some choices that I squinted at a bit. It wasn't so bad though that I would redact points for it.
Overall: Best Chinese show I have watched so far. I loved it. I didn’t even expect to like it and I had heard it was so painful but I loved it anyway. I hadn’t cried this much over a show since The Untamed (and Yanxi Palace…it got me with their friendships, okay?!) so it’s somehow very precious that I watched this show a whole year since I discovered The Untamed. Very fitting.
Pro-tip: If you want to cry less while watching, read the book first. You’ll cry while reading the book and the show hurts less!
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This review may contain spoilers
When I heard about the release of this drama, I immediately wrote it down on my calendar and eagerly waited for the first episode. When I watched the first episode, I ended up having a headache and more questions than answers. (In retrospect, I do know that is how it should really be to get the viewers hook on the show but the headache didn't really go away for the first few episodes). By this time, I was just actually watching because I'm intrigued. I want to know where this story will take us. To be honest, the leads I love the lead actors on this drama BUT the two of them together? I'm not really sure. I wasn't the biggest fan of their couple. It also didn't help that it wasn't clear enough why, when, and how Jeong Tae Eul fell for the ML. It was like Lee Gon went home, she missed him (or his company) and boom she was in love? That part, for me, really was a deal breaker.
I always tell my friends that if they remove the love line in this drama I think it will be 1000x more beautiful. The action/ political/ fantasy side of the drama was really off the charts. It was sooo good. Really intriguing and the concept was really good. However, I really didn't see the importance of the love line at first, it was only at the last few episodes that I somewhat saw the significance of it (but still not 100% sold to the idea).
This drama started as okay but got did get better in time. Ending was okay, I think almost everything was addressed properly except what will happen to the throne since I don't think they are planning to get married and start a family? Wished they showed more of the second leads love line. Especially our Yeong. He really deserved it.
Also, one thing I really loved in this drama since the beginning (other than the bromance of Lee Gon and Yeong) was the cinematography. Just wow. Daebak!
Anyway, congrats to the whole team of the drama for a job well done!
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Binge for maximum enjoyment
This is a drama that you must binge to fully enjoy, if you think too deeply about each episode you will find it hard to ignore the mediocre writing. But if you binge it, you will find yourself having a lot of fun.THE STORY:
Honestly, there is nothing particularly special about this story. Ra yi eon is a noble man who is chosen to become an inspector. He meets Jo yi a newly divorced woman who wants to find her mother who returned from Qing.
They work together and eventually focus on bringing justice to the late crown prince, yi eon’s best friend who died unjustly.
What I appreciate about this story is that it contains some of the most ridiculously funny moments I’ve watched in a long time, meanwhile it never undermines the severity of certain situations, such as how woman and children were suffering due to the war.
A criticism is that the actual inspecting wasn’t believable. Most of what happened was due to either luck or the other sides oversight.
Another issue with the story is that it doesn’t give proper attention to a specific plot line. They are always sidetracked into talking about other things. Because if this, the drama began to feel more like an everyday family type drama, with multiple things circulating at once.
THE ACTING:
There was nothing wrong with the acting, the main cast and the villains played their roles as they should. No complaints there.
The heroines felt like heroines and the villains felt like villains (Do soo was particularly creepy I must say).
My favourite character was Tae Soo, he was given the most detailed character set up, from his villain origin to his redemption. His story received lot of the attention from the production, and was seemingly going to play a large part in the final retribution of the main villains, however it just didn’t. That was majorly disappointing and pretty random.
THE MUSIC:
The timing of the music was great to add to the comedic aspect. The OST itself was weirdly entertaining and I definitely liked it.
Good points:
- The chemistry of the whole group was great and so enjoyable to watch. In my opinion, this is what made the drama so entertaining to watch.
- the comedic timing of the whole cast was perfect. I found myself howling in laughter on many occasions.
- I loved how unconventional the characters were. Jo Yi and Yi Eon both new they liked each other however they both saw no need to be married, in fact Jo yi was adamant on not getting married as she enjoys her freedom as a non married woman and Yi Eon seemed to just simply not want marriage. Despite this they still planned to live together as life partners. Although this mindset it pretty unrealistic to the time period it was nice to see.
- There where important conversations about the way women and children had to suffer both with being taken to Qing as well as how they where ridiculed on their return.
- rather than having the big showdown and only seeing a short happy ending, we got a full episode worth of a happy ending. Episode 16 was dedicated to closing loose ends and seeing everyone thoroughly happy.
WARNINGS:
- I already mentioned this but the ‘inspecting’ looked like child’s play. Yi Eon was pretty much always one step behind the villains so realistically he’d never have won.
- The downfall of the big villains was ok but not satisfying enough if that makes sense. They suffered and definitely paid, but it feels like something was missing.
Story wise this drama should be a 8.0/10 or a 7.5/10 if you’re feeling harsh, however the enjoyment and laughter I experienced makes me feel it deserves a bit of an inflated rating.
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Iwai explores loneliness, longing, companionship, destruction and construction of Japanese family, the rigid nature of Japanese society in the modern age. This makes Bride both a affirmation and subversion of Iwai's earlier films that I've watched like Love Letter, All About Lily Chou Chou and Hana and Alice. If those films reflects nostalgia, Bride seeks to redefine how the age of technology may bring people closer but also further and how this creates and define human connection.
Bride still incorporates Iwai signatures like sun flares, soulful montage, instrumental music and bringing in small scenes to bigger ones. Yet, Bride stands as its own. It's not as romantic as Love Letter of Hana and Alice nor as the coming-of-age of All About Lily Chou Chou. Despite a 12-year hiatus, Iwai doesn't lose his touch. He is still a very lyrical storytelling in a 3-hour emotional tale driven by an impressive cast, beautiful cinematography and heart whelming music.
When it comes to cinematography, Iwai's films are on the top of list. But of course, the credit goes to the film's cinematographer, Chiga Kanbe. What I love about Bride is how Iwai (and Kanbe) tells some much with its visuals and music that doesn't overpower each other even if sometimes, the dialogue is barely heard. The music by Mako Kuwabara embraces its stunning visuals. The overall tone is filled with sheer melancholy reflected with the littered cold colors, we too, are plunged in Kuroki's trauma paired with unstable camera angles showing a distorted vision.
Iwai knows how to tug at your heartstrings. He knows how to many silent shots mean so much more later. And finally, he knows how to build up drama and tension. It's 3 hours long (shorter in other countries) but the tension never subsides and the reveal particularly of Ayano Go and Cocco particularly laid down every detail shown prior to it. It makes the execution so satisfying. Yes, 3 hours is very long. Overly long and the film could've been shorter but very scene counts. Every scene matters. Though they seem random, they're not. That's how I felt watching this.
The cast, led by Hana Kuroki has amazing chemistry together and each of their characters contrast one another that brings out the personalities more. It's not a lopsided portrayal despite Mashiro (Cocco)'s later appearance in the second half. These characters aren't stock or just for display, they are there for a reason and their characters are explored.
Kuroki plays Nanami, a timid doe-eyed wallflower. Kuroki embodies a certain innocence that makes Nanami's somewhat bittersweet ending...worthwhile. She shines, in a subtle, very modest way but she shines. Though I would say Go is my favorite. He just has this charisma that pushes its way through. Playing a jack-of-all-trades, part Mephistopheles, he has done it with such clarity. Cocco is the light of the film (as ironic has that sounds given her character's fate) because of how vibrant and how lively she is compared to Kuroki's character.
Iwai doesn't sugarcoat these characters. He establishes them as such and moves on as much, making their emotions and experiences so much more connective with the viewer. He shows Nanami as awkward and docile by her experiences in school, having no relatives to invite at her wedding and eventually her own marriage.
Kuroki and Go stared in Flower of Shanidar (2013) which explains their good chemistry. But Kuroki and Cocco also share this same chemistry particularly because they're opposites of each other which really brings out their own respective personalities. Perhaps their bond is more than sisterly, maybe even erotic but I see it as more platonic bond of two lonely women, trying to find comfort in a directionless world.
Very much like Rip Van Winkle, these two women wake up in a world that breaks away from their past and try to make the most out of it...to be happy.
Bride also stands out because of how symbolic things are and how metaphorical it is. There is a scene where Kuroki approaches Go, some might see as romantic but Go's lines are metaphorical which relates back to the reveal of both his and Cocca's character. Seeing how Iwai reverts that and how Iwai chooses dialogue as a vital component in storytelling.
Finally, I want to say that there is so much suppressed emotions in this film which perhaps echoes the rigidity of Japanese social mores. Cocca's occupation is a very clever and important choice that relates to that. Not going to mention here explicitly but her job embodies the freedom and rejects this rigidity. Overall, it ties back to what the films show. Leaving yourself bare and exposed is a more intimate emotion where throughout the film, you suffocate by how much people are keeping and how fake they can be especially in this digital age.
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Revenge Done Right
This is what a revenge drama should look like when it’s done right.At its core, it’s a makjang story—full of twists, betrayals, and just enough chaos to keep you hooked—but what sets it apart is how intentional everything feels. This isn’t revenge for shock value. Every step of her plan is carefully built, and more importantly, clearly explained as the story unfolds. One is never left confused—we’re watching the pieces fall into place exactly as she intended.
And the protagonist, Rao Yuci? She’s not some untouchable mastermind who wins at every turn. That’s what makes this so satisfying. She’s driven, yes—completely committed to righting the wrongs done to her—but she’s also human. She falters. She suffers losses she didn’t see coming. There are moments where things slip out of her control, and one feels the stress of that.
But she never stays down for long.
What I appreciated most is that the show allows her to be vulnerable without weakening her. Every setback sharpens her resolve. Every loss fuels her next move. So when she finally starts taking people down—one by one—it feels earned.
That said… she can be frustrating too—and I mean that in a good way. She’s so hell bent on revenge that she refuses to let anyone in, even when it’s clear she doesn’t have to carry everything alone. There is a love interest (and I was fully rooting for him), but watching him constantly have to prove himself and fight for her trust can be tough at times. You just want to shake her and say, “let someone help you for once.”
But again, it fits her character. Her walls weren’t built overnight, so it makes sense they don’t come down easily. And to the show’s credit, staying on the layered path, he has his own backstory, his own struggles, but it all gets wrapped up by the end.
And make no mistake, she delivers.
There are collateral damages along the way (as there always are in stories like this), but the payoff is incredibly satisfying. Each person who wronged her is dealt with thoroughly—no loose ends, no rushed conclusions. By the end, every major character’s arc is accounted for, and everything is wrapped up in a way that feels complete.
The acting also plays a huge role in elevating the entire experience. Sandra Ma absolutely carries the show—her performance is layered, controlled, and powerful in a way that makes every emotional beat land harder. She brings depth to the character’s pain, rage, and resilience, and honestly, she overshadows everyone else.
That’s not to say the rest of the cast didn’t hold their own—they did. Mabel Yuan as Bai Liang Liang did have moments where her performance was a bit too dramatic, but given the makjang nature of the story, it actually fits more than it detracts.
It’s dramatic, it’s intense, and yes, and yes it can be wild at times but it never loses control of its storytelling.
A revenge story that actually respects the journey, not just the outcome.
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Too boring!!
I honestly thought Hu Yi Tian chose a nice character to play after a long time. This role is different from the previous Cold ML roles he have played. This is one of those dramas i waited for every week to watch the latest episodes. The plot looked promising and unique in the starting. But when i almost decided that this drama is going to be one of my fav C dramas, it started falling apart. All the clichés like breakup, misunderstanding, cheating, rebound relationships etc.. started appearing one by one in the second half. That unique plot which i loved in the start lost its charm and started to disappear. I felt like dropping it many times but gave chances hoping for the plot revival.What i liked through out the drama is that:
- Relationships may not be forever and it is okay to forget and move on.
- Showing that a success/ failure is not the end and there is no guarantee it would last longer.
- There are some relations which you cannot name or describe, they can only be felt.
What i liked in the first half but started to dislike the same in the second half of the drama:
- FL. I assumed that she is a strong person (although appeared a bit spoilt in the start) who can empathize with ML's situations and dreams. But she kept interfering in ML's career and doubting him for silly reasons even though they've dated long enough for her to know his character. All she know is to solve things through connections and money. Even when ML said many times that he can succeed even without her HELP she secretly does things her way and expects ML to be thankful and accept it. Although it is good to support her partner, she has to at least believe in his potential to rise from the failures.
What i disliked about this drama:
- The way they showed rebound relations. One day a person takes divorce and the next day he/she fall in love with another person. Not even once, but they showcased this concept through out the drama. I completely support withdrawing from a toxic or unhappy relationship but people need time to move on from the previous relationships and to start a new one. I hated how they showed love as a snack you can choose from the supermarket lyk 'Didn't like this flavor? go for another. Is the previous one better? you can always go back!!'
- Meng Xi. How can someone believe a person for the second time after they've cheated?? Just because her ex-bf came back, said sorry, planning to buy her dream house if she is ready to marry him, she forgave him and immediately married him. When she later realized he never changed she divorced him and within no time fell in love with Xiao Bao. And i'm not even surprised when this happened because Xiao bao himself did the exact same thing. When his marriage was cancelled he started hitting on Meng Xi as if he doesn't even care abt his ex-gf in the first place.
- Nosy Parents. I am completely against when parents try to rule their children's life especially when they are adults and this is exactly what happened in Kong hao's life. His mother is totally against his and Yao Jia Ren's relationship, just because she is not from wealthier family. Also his parents forcing him to do only certain type of job is even more unfair. The moment he tries to tell them he wanted to live in his own way, they emotionally blackmail him and try to win over the arguments.
This would have been a good drama if they stopped it at one point of time. The more the number of episodes grew, the more the plot was messed up. I honestly don't recommend it anyone unless they are a fan of ML/FL and can watch a below average drama for them.
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An Underrated Gem
I love this drama. It is a gem under the radar. It has a great plot with unusual and interesting criminal cases filled with man-made supernatural phenomena, magic and mysteries. Each case is different with unpredictable outcomes. The main characters are intelligent and lovable. The pace is good, the story telling is excellent and logical. All these are built upon a real historical background which is authentic and fascinating, albeit violent and stormy. Most of all, it’s a page turner and very addictive.Set in the Tang Dynasty during the tumultuous second reign of Emperor Ruizong (r. 684-690, 710-712) (not explicitly stated) who was one of the sons of the infamous female Emperor Wu Zetian, the era saw the Dynasty as the center of the world with exquisite material life and fusion of diverse cultures. Consistently behind the scene is the power struggle, which is historically recorded, between the Emperor’s younger sister, Princess Taiping (youngest daughter of Wu Zetian) and the Crown Prince, Li Longji. It was said the Princess was the real power behind the throne. Many court officials and military personnel flattered to join her camp, and her power exceeded even that of the emperor’s. In this drama, we see deadly political conflicts and manifestation of conspiracy between the Crown Prince and the Elder Princess. And both of our main leads are embroiled in the conflicts which are linked to the cases they have to solve.
Yang Xuwen as Lu Lingfeng is convincing as the proud general who is not too flexible but very good in martial art fighting especially with his long spear. He is upstanding and will do anything to uphold justice. He is loyal to the Crown Prince but is warned to hands off from his investigation of the Chang'an Tea mystery which he's deeply involved and couldn't withdraw himself. So after the mystery is being solved, Lu Lingfeng is stripped of his title and ordered to leave the capital. Behind his background, he has a secret which he doesn’t know himself. Yang Xuwen has a rather rigid look and his portrayal of Lu Lingfeng is very believable.
Su Wuming (Yang Zhigang) is a student of the genius investigative judge Di Renjie. He is humble and resourceful, and is appreciated by the Princess. Su Wuming doesn’t want to be involved in the royal court disputes and is sent away from the capital to the regional office. He is meticulous and observant of the tiniest details, and he is wise but often underestimated by his enemies. Yang Zhigang’s portrayal is very authentic with his suave demeanor, bringing the character alive and loved by viewers.
On their way out of Chang'an, Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming meet again. Lu Lingfeng initially has a grudge against Su Wuming over some personal issues. After solving their first case together, they become rather fond of each other and the two become good partners, and from thereon, jointly solving cases after cases. Both characters have opposite personalities and strengths, complimenting each other in their investigative work. The bromance between the two is funny and lovable. Their formidable team later includes a talented artist who is in love with Lu Lingfeng, a brilliant doctor disguised as a beggar who loves to eat chicken, and a boy who is talented in martial arts and later becomes Lu Lingfeng’s disciple. I really enjoy watching all of them working together, fending off enemies and solving cases.
My Verdict
If you love The Imperial Coroner, The Detective, Ancient Detective, or Miss Truth, you may love this drama as well. Though with less romance than the other aforementioned, this drama has, among others, few plot holes, good storytelling, and high quality plops. The cases are intriguing and complicated, and the characters are equally lovable and intelligent.
The drama showcases phantoms, illusions, legendary beasts with the ample use of CGIs, some very good as (such as those with the giant crocodiles, phantoms), some less so (such as those with the giant bear). Every seemingly unimportant detail is a clue. Each case is different like an adventure. The case solving techniques involve new way of thinking, understanding of human psychology and most of all, common sense. The culprit in each case has compelling human reasons for committing crimes. A lot of the plots and dialogs are oxymoronic and comical without brazenly admitting so.
Romance is not the focus here as both men are tsunderes and practically run away from romantic relationships despite both men so have love interest with two women. For me, no romance is better than bad romance.
A great watch for thriller buffs.
TWO THUMBS UP! BRAVO!
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Gu Yiye a winner
This military drama is surprisingly enjoyable. Gu Yiye played by Xiao Zhan is an interesting and very endearing character. He’s smart, brave, righteous and driven to achieve his goals. Although kind-hearted he doesn’t back down from a fight (especially with Gao Liang - played by Johnny Huang Jingyu the other male lead). There’s a ruggedness and masculinity not seen in Xiao Zhan’s past roles that is very attractive. He had lots of chemistry with Elaine Zhong Chuyi (Jiang Nan Zheng), Bai Lu (Hu Yang) and Mao Lin Lin (A Xiu). There’s a sweet youthful romance, an intense male rivalry and struggles of military life. The dreams of young soldiers are forever changed by adversities they face and tough choices they make. The development of a true Ace Force requires tough training, real battles and sacrifice. I found Gu Yiye’s determination, perseverance and responsibility to be heart-warming and inspiring.The storyline becomes is a bit disjointed in the last ten episodes (probably due to post/production cuts). The final drama delivered is not as good as it could have been, but every scene with Gu Yiye is worth watching. Xiao Zhan delivers a phenomenal performance as Gu Yiye.
A bonus is the beautiful ending song “We Used to Be Together” sung by Xiao Zhan and Tan Weiwei. Plus Bai Lu’s guest appearance and “bite” in Episode 1 is precious!
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Does the journey matter or does the ending?
Okay, if you're one of those people that think "how it ends doesn't matter, it's the journey that counts" then you'll probably rate this really highly and love it from start to finish. If you're the type of person who needs things to be wrapped up cleanly with closure — me — then the show will leave you with a lot of mixed feelings.To start with, the vibe of the show is pretty much perfect. I really loved Heedo's character and how the themes were incorporated into the show — dreams, efforts, happiness, friendships, different types of love, supporting each other from afar...it was all just really beautiful. I still love all the friendships in this, and for the most part the time jumps were done really well with us seeing how the characters grew into adulthood and went about their lives after growing and learning from each other.
It's the last few episodes (15 & 16) that really take a different turn. There were really multiple ways to write a "realistic" story and the writers picked the one that, to me, felt as though it went against a lot of the inspiring hope that we had gotten in the rest of the show. There were crazy time jumps in the last episode and the past and present timelines never felt like they converged with closure. The last episode was just kind of miserable, except for a few side characters that really saved it.
Speaking of which, I felt like present timeline was just really unnecessary from start to finish. The characters never felt like themselves (even if they were the same actors) and it really felt like it was included either to (1) show how time passed and Heedo's daughter Minchae was dealing with the same thing (to which I would say nobody really cared about her story and everyone only cared about the 90s timeline) or (2) to purposefully throw off the audience. Either way, it felt disjointed and unnecessary. It didn't provide closure either — the questions we started with still persisted, and we never saw the other main characters again.
Overall, this was still such a comfort show for me for so many weeks. There are some iffy parts that I wish it touched more on but overall I thought all the character arcs were thought out thoroughly. It just kind of sucks that the writers picked the route they did.
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